With over 85 years of history as a family business, the PHW Group is a company with a rich history of tradition, firm roots and the desire for consistent improvement. This can be seen in the past and into the future.
The Founders
These words from Heinz Lohmann are more than just a quote. With them, the company founder established the foundations of the WIESENHOF philosophy. From the outset, Heinz Lohmann always had the right feeling for a promising “idea with legs”.
With just 5.70 marks in his pocket, Paul Wesjohann found a job on a farm in Rechterfeld in the Oldenburg Münsterland, now in Lower Saxony, in the 1920s. In 1932, he opened a small agricultural business with a hatchery. With his hallmark diligence, thrift and courage, he steadily expanded the company.
2017:
Inauguration of the new Central Laboratory for Microbiology & Residue Analysis in Lohne, Lower Saxony
2018:
Establishment of the new business unit of alternative protein sources through strategic investments and partnerships (Beyond Meat, SuperMeat, Enterra, Good Catch)
publication of the first Sustainability Report
Allfein Feinkost acquires production plant Klaus, in Laage, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
2017:
Inauguration of the new Central Laboratory for Microbiology & Residue Analysis in Lohne, Lower Saxony
2018:
Establishment of the new business unit of alternative protein sources through strategic investments and partnerships (Beyond Meat, SuperMeat, Enterra, Good Catch)
publication of the first Sustainability Report
Allfein Feinkost acquires production plant Klaus, in Laage, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
2017:
Inauguration of the new Central Laboratory for Microbiology & Residue Analysis in Lohne, Lower Saxony
2018:
Establishment of the new business unit of alternative protein sources through strategic investments and partnerships (Beyond Meat, SuperMeat, Enterra, Good Catch)
publication of the first Sustainability Report
Allfein Feinkost acquires production plant Klaus, in Laage, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
2017:
Inauguration of the new Central Laboratory for Microbiology & Residue Analysis in Lohne, Lower Saxony
2018:
Establishment of the new business unit of alternative protein sources through strategic investments and partnerships (Beyond Meat, SuperMeat, Enterra, Good Catch)
publication of the first Sustainability Report
Allfein Feinkost acquires production plant Klaus, in Laage, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
2015:
Fire and subsequent reconstruction of Donautal Geflügelspezialitäten (poultry specialities)
2016:
Fire and subsequent reconstruction of Oldenburg Geflügelspezialitäten (poultry specialities)
acquisition of shares in integrated poultry production business Ameta, Bulgaria
2012:
WIESENHOF becomes Werder Bremen’s official shirt sponsor
2014:
Construction and commissioning of new Regenstauf hatchery in Bavaria
disposal of LAH to Elanco
establishment of Groenlandkip in the Netherlands
acquisition of shares in Esbro in the Netherlands
2010:
First company in the poultry industry to introduce climate-neutral production processes
partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Management
all production sites gradually awarded sustainability certification
2011:
Introduction of the WIESENHOF Privathof concept
construction of new mixed animal feed plant in Eberswalde, Brandenburg
construction of a new deep-freeze logistics centre in Zerbst, Saxony-Anhalt
2008:
Acquisition of production plant Schloss Göhrde, Dannenberg, Lower Saxony, by Allfein Feinkost
2009:
Paul-Heinz Wesjohann hands over the management reins to his son Peter Wesjohann | New building and commissioning of turkey abattoir near Geestland in Wildeshausen, Lower Saxony | Sustainability Council established
2006:
Takeover of PetCom Minden (animal feed mixes for pet food industry) in NRW.
2007:
New hatchery plant at Rechterfeld, Lower Saxony
TAD sold to Krka, Slovenia
2004:
Bavarian Animal Welfare Award for free range chickens
acquisition of Grimme WH Entensepz. (duck specialties) and Duck Tec in Bad Belzig (focusing on pre-hatching processes)
2005:
Takeover of the duck abattoir in Neutrebbin, Märkish-Oderland (Brandenburg)
new hatchery at Drobimex in Poland
2002:
Participation in RWS and entry into the turkey segment (pre-hatching/hatchery/slaughter)
market launch of duck specialities
2003:
Commissioning of new hatchery in Möckern, Saxony-Anhalt
participation in Bomadek
2000:
Start of poultry farming using alternative husbandry methods (free range chickens)
2001:
Shareholding acquired in Drobimex
launch of own sausage production in Rietberg, NRW
winners of “Goldener Zuckerhut” food industry award
1997:
LAG fully-owned by Wesjohann family / Heinz Lohmann Foundation established
1998:
Division of the LOHMANN-WESJOHANN Group / Formation of the PHW Group
1995:
WIESENHOF introduces Guarantee of Origin / takeover of Heidegold abattoir
1996:
LTE and TAD-Veterinär merge to form LAH
1991:
Start of business operations in the former East German states: abattoirs / poultry farms / animal feed
1994:
TAD research succeeds in producing live vaccines
1987:
Formation of the LOHMANN-WESJOHANN Group
Wesjohann acquires a 51% stake in LAG
1991:
Start of vaccine production in the USA
1982:
ALLFEIN (convenience products) founded
1984:
NUTRILO (food supplements) founded
1972:
First shareholding acquired in abattoir (Holte/Lohne) / founding of MEGA
1978:
Start of both agricultural and poultry farming business operations in the USA
1968:
Foundation of TAD-Pharma
1970:
Formation of Paul Wesjohann & Co. as a KG (limited partnership)
change of legal structure in 1972 to GmbH (limited liability company) with the formation of the LOHMANN & CO. Aktiengesellschaft (LAG)
1965:
Founding of the Weser-Ems hatchery jointly with Lohmann
Establishment of Geflügel-Kontor poultry trading business / WIESENHOF brand developed
1967:
Founding of KG Junggeflügelmasterzeuger (Master Producer, poultry chicks)
LTE (animal nutrition) established
1959:
Establishment of the egg wholesale business
1961:
Hatchery founded in southern Germany (Brüterei Süd)
1951:
Re-establishment of Paul Wesjohann’s agricultural business
installation of microbiological laboratory / fermentation begins
1956:
First poultry farm / abattoir / launch of successful “Goldhähnchen” product range
1932:
Paul Wesjohann establishes an agricultural business with a hatchery
Heinz Lohmann establishes Deutsche Fischmehlfabrik, a plant producing fish meal.
1937:
Purchase of Wesjohann farm in Rechterfeld, Lower Saxony